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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50% of adults over the age of 65 years have some type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common of knee inflammation and degradation of knee cartilage.

The type of injection depends on the nature of the knee injury or disease, such as:

. Corticosteroid injection - These are used to treat inflammation and decrease pain.
. Hyaluronic acid joint injections - These are used to replace lost synovial joint fluid, to increase mobility and range of motion.
. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection - These are used to treat pain and injuries of the tendons and ligaments.

Knee injections are minimally invasive procedures, which are performed in the doctor’s office. The doctor will first assess the knee and locate the exact area to injection. The skin is cleansed with an antiseptic solution.

The doctor first injects a local anesthetic into the skin and soft tissues. The needle is inserted into the joint, and the doctor may aspirate some joint fluid to release pressure or to examine it for bacteria. After removing the fluid, the medication or solution is injected into the joint. When the needle is removed, a band-aid is applied.

The PRP procedure begins with drawing a sample of the patient’s own blood, which is processed in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the other cells. The doctor then injects the PRP into the injured joint region. The platelets contain natural chemicals that aid in healing the knee structures.

Patients with damaged or degenerated cartilage and musculoskeletal tissues of the knee will find pain relief through corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections. These injections are reserved for patients who do not respond to physical therapy, pain relievers, and resting the knee.

As with any minimally invasive procedure, injecting a knee carries some risk. The corticosteroid injection risks include bleeding, infection, damage to tissues/nerves, and reaction to medication.

Knee injection treatment outcomes vary from patient to patient, depending on the severity of damage, the response to treatment, the type of treatment, and the doctor’s expertise. For patients with osteoarthritis, patients often report decreased pain after 4 days to 12 weeks, and the pain may be eliminated for months.

In recent studies, the success rate of hyaluronic acid injection therapy was 75%. In a 2004 review of many studies, corticosteroid knee joint injections were found to be an effective therapy for osteoarthritis pain, with relief lasting for up to 2 months.